Chapter 122
Chapter 122. To the Clan’s Territory
Originally, the ancient demon race lived on a tiny, barren piece of land.
For them, acquiring a rich and vast territory was a cherished dream.
Thus, the first Demon Lord distributed the conquered lands generously to his subordinates. The ambition of the first Demon Lord was not to elevate himself but to enrich his clan.
Those with power and those who contributed to the Demon Lord were prioritized for rewards, which inevitably led to influential clans clustering around the Demon Lord Castle in the western part of the continent.
Conversely, weaker clans were often relegated to the eastern regions or near the front lines.
…The fact that there were more fertile lands in the east than in the west is just a charming quirk.
Now, let’s talk about my clan, the Reiju Tribe.
This clan, among the most prestigious in the Demon Lord Kingdom, boasts quite a vast territory stretching from the west to the southwest of the Demon Lord Castle. Rumor has it that they even gobbled up a small human kingdom…
Our home base is just a little over a day’s travel from the Demon Lord Castle by skeletal carriage.
It’s not too far, nor too close. Riding a dragon would get us there in less than an hour, but Platy and I are taking the carriage. Winter is approaching, the sky is chilly, and there’s no rush, plus we have attendants with us.
So here we are, swaying in the carriage.
“Not that it’s swaying much anyway,” I think to myself.
Thanks to Enma’s crafted black box, the carriage’s shakes are minimized to the extreme. …Sorry to the skeletons working inside, really…
“…”
The interior is quiet.
Just me, Platy, Sophia, and Viene.
…To be honest, I initially intended to travel with Liliana and Leila.
Leaving my mother behind to cozy up with women in a carriage doesn’t quite sit right, and I have no idea what I’d hear upon arriving.
I don’t care what anyone says, but for Platy, it’s a bit concerning.
Thus, as a result of my extremely high-level political judgment, I ended up riding alongside Platy.
“…”
Platy sits next to me, sinking comfortably into her seat, dozing off. She normally carries herself rigidly at the Demon Lord Castle, but here she seems to be letting her guard down.
Sophia is silently engrossed in a history book from the recently reclaimed Defteros Kingdom on the front lines, slowly savoring the pages as if fearing to finish it too quickly.
And across from me sits Viene, sitting straight with her back rigid. When our eyes meet, she shows a wistful, sorrowful expression. It seems she’s not relaxing at all in an environment filled with only superiors like me, Platy, and Sophia.
Last time I went out for drills, the Night Elf squad was in the same carriage, so they could easily relax amongst familiar faces.
In such moments, being a Night Elf seems like a disadvantage. If it were a beastman like Garunya, they could sleep snugly without any reprimand, but if a Night Elf were to slack off, they’d likely hear, “What are you doing, slacking off?”
“…”
I teasingly raised my eyebrows at Viene, deliberately applying pressure.
“…!”
For some reason, it must have struck a chord, as Viene snickered silently, eventually giving in and reclining to gaze leisurely at the scenery outside the window.
How strange… I was supposed to be pressuring her…
“Seems like she’s oddly thick-skinned,” I thought.
Viene is somehow a bit out of sync with other Night Elves…
I wondered what would happen if I blew up and yelled, “What are you doing slacking off!” but…
Well, for today’s sake, I’ll let it slide since Platy is peacefully dozing next to me…
As such thoughts wandered in my mind, I turned my gaze outside the carriage.
We left the Demon Lord Castle in the evening, and it’s been several hours now. Outside, there’s only the light of the stars, and it’s almost completely dark.
This area is under the direct control of the Demon Lord, and the roadside is lined only with fields after harvest. It feels rather desolate. Occasionally, I catch sight of what looks like a beastman settlement, but it seems the residents are all quiet and there’s not a single light to be seen.
The carriage is moving at an astonishing speed, flowing past the scenery in the blink of an eye.
Hmm… not much to see.
I’m just painfully bored.
“Last time, I was snuggling with cats and dogs, stretching my limits… It felt like we got there in no time,” I recalled.
Anthe’s voice had a bit of an edge.
Uuuuuuumm… It’s hard to admit, but…
Lately, when I had free time, I was always petting either Garunya, Liliana, or Leila…
If I have free time, I can’t seem to relax unless I’m petting someone…!!
But…!! In this carriage…!!
There’s no one to pet…!!
I mean, even if she’s sleeping, I feel weird about petting Platy right here…!!
Uuuuuumm.
“Hm? How about this?”
Suddenly, in front of me, Anthe made a fluffy appearance.
Demon God Antendeixis (phantom form).
Even if it’s an illusion, I can still feel it.
“Here, this should keep you entertained, right?”
With a mischievous grin, Anthe leaned on me.
“Be grateful to me.”
…Isn’t it just that you want to be petted yourself?
“Shut it.”
Ouch! Don’t poke my eyes, even if you’re an illusion!!
Alright, fine. The great Demon God, Anthe, I’ll gladly give you some pets.
“Good. You’re welcome to do so.”
And so, I began to pet Anthe with all my might――
†††
(――Huh? What!? What’s going on!?)
At that moment, Viene felt a jolt of tension.
(What’s happening!? Just because he’s longing for a woman… has he finally lost touch with reality…?!)
While desperately trying to look away from the unusual sight of Demon Lord’s Prince Zilbagias smiling while petting the air, she prayed to the dark gods for the carriage journey to end soon.
